Fifth wheel side release locking mechanism



Sept. 9, 1952 KETEL 2,610,069

FIFTH WHEEL SIDE RELEASE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 194$ 3Sheets-Sheet l /,v men/T02 MM HEN/av K: TEL

Arron/vs vs Sept. 9, 1952 H. KETEL 2,610,069

FIFTH WHEEL SIDE RELEASE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 2 BY a ATTORNEYS Sept. 9, 1952 H. KETEL FIFTH WHEEL SIDERELEASE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Qua mHENRY Kara.

ATTGRNE vs Patented Sept. 9, 1952 l n n 2,610,069 n rirrn WHEEL SIDERELEASE LOQKING I ncnams Y: L I: Henry new], Holland, Michi, time toHolland Hitch Company olMichigan,

Holland, Mich., a corporation 3 e Application December 27, 194f$erlalNo. 135,251

{The present invention relates to a novel and very useful releaselocking mechanism in connectio' with fifth wheels, used at the backandthe upper side of atractor or truck to detachably connect with a strongand heavy pin fastened at the front portion and at the under sideofaframe of atrailer to be drawn by thetractor or truck. 7

Such structures require exceptional strength and durability, and it isdesirable that they be automatically locked when the tractor or trucking position which, ifitloccurred would obstruct. the entrance of thepin on the trailer to its operative position in the fifth wheel uponreconnection of the pulling truck with the trailer. At the same time,after such entrance of the pin into its proper position in the fifthwheel, an automatic releaseof the lock-so that it takes its lockingposition without manual release of the lock is obtained. his a primaryobject and purpose of the present invention to i provide a lock forfifth wheels readily releasedwhenwanted and which i will maintain itsunlocked position but will automatically take its operative lockingposition when a truck. and aatrailer to be drawn thereby are connectedtogether. Th invention further contemplates a particularly sturdy,relatively simple and economical structure, having all of the ad-,-vantages and properties above enumerated and WhiChjS of a novelstructure readily manufactured and assembled.

An understanding of the invention may be had from, the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich, Fig l is a plan view of a fifth wheel equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical-section therethrough, substantially ,onthe planeof line 2- -2 of Fig; 1, looking in the direction indicated.Fig. 3 is an under plan view, with some parts broken away and removed,ofthe structure shown inFigLand H I Fig. 4 is anunder plan'view of adifferent form of the releasing lock which attains the same results bythe same operative principles.

, 3 Claims. (01. 280 33.05) a Like reference characters refer to likeparts in the difierent figures of the drawings. a l i In the usual fifthwheel construction, a body I of generally the shape shown, at its rearside has two spaced apart legs 2 of 'whichthe inner edges convergetoward each other'forwardly, and join a slot '3substantially 'atthecenterof the body, which slotat itsinner endis closed and is of agenerally semi-circular outline as shown; The bodyis mounted upon twospaced apartsupporting brackets 4, which in turn are rigidly connectedat the back and upper Side of the chassis of -a truck or the like,between which is a horizontal shaft 5 mounted in bearingsin the brackets4 at its ends, with connectors 6 through which the shaftipasses boltedor otherwise securely attached at the under side'and at opposite edgeportions of the body I, usually with rubber fillers between suchconnectors Gand the body I. This permits the body i to beturned todifierent angular positions about the horizontal axis of the shaftS;

At the inner or closed end of the slot 3a head I, which atits outer endhas 'a semi-circular re-' cess therein, is slidably mountedhavingextending from it ,a'bar 8 which at its free end is reduced infsize andis of a circular cross section,

slidablypassing througha fixed guide portion of the, body I, and actedupon by a compression spring 9 to normally move in a rearwarddirection.under the influence of such spring when free to do is carried by thebody I and having segmental pinion teeth I3 in mesh with the rack teethHi."

When the spring 9' is 'free to do so and moves the head 1 to the rear,itautomati'cally swings or throws the holding member H across theslot 3andbrings it into a pin retaining relation with the recessed rear end ofthe head 1, such lever l I in direct conjunction with such recess havinga cooperating recess so that the opening provided is of circularform.The free end of the holding lever l I indicated at I4, is reducedsomewhat in} thickness asshownj The pin l5 shown inFig. 2,

which is adapted toubesecured at the under side and front portion of aframe of a trailer,has a reduced intermediate portion which generallyfits the circular opening made by the parts I and l I,

being enlarged in diameter both above and below such reduced portion sothat movement in the directionofthe lengthofthe pin I5 is restricted; Alocking dog-16 isslidablymounted on the inclusive, a bell crank lever18, has an arm I841 thereof pivotally connected to a lug! 9, fixed withAdjacent the juncturej of the two arms of the bell crank lever, aslotZB' respect to the body I.

farther into the slots or 2'! until such lever H passes beyond the dog,whereupon spring I! acts to project the dog into position back of theend M of the retaining lever H, thus locking the pin l5 againstdisengagement. When a destination is reached wherein the trailer andtractor are to be separated, it is necessary only-to manually pull therod- 22 outward until the dog reaches a position where it is heldagainst return to its operative locking position.

It will. be understood from the foregoing that :the: connecti'onof atrailer with a tractor having is cut therein which is widenedat itszrearaportion providing a shoulder 21'." A roller is cari ried on a studIlia. on the locking dog l6 which,

when the bell crank lever is swung counterclockwise (Fig. 3), traversesthe slot. The dog 16" is withdrawn against the spring I! and the rollenwhen it reaches the shoulder at 20, is pressed into such shoulder and isheld therein bytheplessure of the sprin iLretaining'the locking.- dog,16. in retracted position:

rod .22, pivotally connected to the free end ofithe lever 18; extendsoutwardly toa-side-ofthe I body I, .bei'ngguidedthrough a lugq23 fixedwith respect. to the body. It has a handle at its outer endior grasping.to movethe rod 22= 'longitud inallyend swing the lever-'Hltowithdrawthe dog |6..- A. relatively light compression spring 24. is,on the-rod 2 2 which; when the rod- 22 is drawnoutwardly reaches thelug23 and'is somewhat compressed when the lever l 8 has reached thevposition in which the dog- J 6 islocked against return movement.

lu -Fig.4, in the modifiedg f orni-of mechanism to I operate thelockingdog, .alever 25fis pivotally mounted between its ends. Itgenerally parallels the rod 8 and at one end hasa head received inanotch or socket ltbin the adjacent; side-of the, .dog it. A platezsispivotally mountedat one end .of the body I and at its other end hasvtherod 22 pivotally connected thereto, which extends outwardly toa sideof the body; havinga handle-at its outerend-ior manual movement. In theplate 2fi-aaysomewhat arcuate slot 21 is made asshown, into whicha pinZaadJfacentthelfree-end. of the lever25 extendsl. Closer to the ireeendof the lever 25 an abutment 29 is providedon the body. l. for such freeend of the lever to strikeagainst when it is free to-beturnedcounterclockwise (Fig. 4) by the spring I 1.

On an outward pulling movement of the rod 22, lever 25 is turnedtoretract the dog. l6

against the;v spring 11., and the pin 2,8 moves. lengthwiseloi the-slot;21 until it reaches. the branch. recess. 21a therein',. shown in: Fig.4r When a tractor isback'edintoengagement with pin.l5. carried attheunder sideoi the frontend portionofv atrailer frame, suchpinwillflenter. the-.s'lotaand a continuing rearwardmovement of :thetractor willcause a compression ofthe spring 11., a forward movement-ofthe head 1.; The retaining lever, I which hasbeen swungto openepositionsubstantially-at rightfangles. to the position shown in Figs. 3 an swillbe automati cally turned. to... closing, position.- The locking--dog 3 l 6 in .either form of. structurewillhave been withdrawn andretained outof the path of move mentoi the pin 15 andout of. the-slot 3,The. roundedv end ottheprojecting end. portion M of thelever l I cammingagainst-the free-end of the r dogm; forcesIthe dOg;;Sti11 furtheragainst the spring H, so as; to release fromltheshoulder at 2|, r;thepin 2'8 ,from'the recess. at 21, and

" the'fifth wheel of my invention thereon, is auto- "ma.tica'llyattained-on. backing the tractor into proper position. Whenever thetractor and trailer areto-be-separated, it is almost immedi- .atelyperformed by an outward pull on the rod '22, the parts bein left in acondition where the automatic reengagement may be performed.Theinvention is practical, of great utility, sturdy n ec n mi y manuf cu e h claims appended; hereto define the invention Y which is;

to be'considered comprehensive of all forms structure; coming-withintheir scope.

I claim: 1

1. Ina structure as described: a bodymember:

having a pin entrance opening at oneside terminating near the centralportion of said body-1 member in'a slot with a closed end; and havingparallel sides, a head movably mounted .on, the; body nember near theclosed. end. of said slot, a rod-extendingiro n :saidhead slida-bly;mounted on-thebody member; aspirin -acting. on saidrod tov normally movethe head toward and intosaid slot, saidheadat its outer; side:havingaxpinre- Caving-5136 0658; therein,- a lever-cooperating withsaid head .pivotally mounted at one. end :on; the

body member-and adaptedtobe swunggacrosstheslot; and having acooperating. recessed. inner side to engage a pin, gearing connectionbetween:

said-headtand lever 'forswinging. the lever: in'op.+.

posite directions in accordance with the direct tion -o.f.mov.ement ofsaid head, the levercbeing;

swungzacross the. slot. when the .h'eadlisvmoved against. said. spring aspring actuated locking; dog.

slidably mounted on .saidbody; member, means; for. retractingsaid .dog,including .a handle.1.rod' 1 having; an end: adapted for manual.engagement located :at. oneyside of; the body member; means.,-.in'clud,ed' inf said last-.mentioned means. for:.rei-

taining. :the ;dog. in retracted; position,t..said dog whenin.retractedzposition havingan end engageable by the free end; of saidpinengaginglever to further: retract itland automatically free saiddogfromvits retaining means, whereby when -the pinsengagingelever-passesuby' thenend of said-dog and" "into: fpin engaging positionacrossthe slot,

the. dog'is moved into. the path. of movement of the free; endportionaofisaid.pingengaging leverto hold it against .releaseuntil' thedog is -rnanually retracted. g 2.. in .afifth wheel, having abodym'ember provided:.:with1a; pinsentrance atone side terminat-: slot:clo'sed at. its inner endpa spriri g actuated pin engaging membermounted on' the body member at the inner end of the-slot ma-lly spring'moved inte said slot, :3. cooperating. 7 pin engaging leverpiv'otallymounted. onv the body ,member at one-end," mean operativelyconnectingsaid pin engagingmembers,toswingsaidcw operating pin engaginglever across theslot'upom; pressure againstthe. firstpi-n engagingmember, 7

said. cooperating- :pin engaging lever- .being .nor-

mally swung teop en position out of. the slotga:

slidably mounted locking dog mounted on said body member, and springmeans actuating said dog to normally move it at one end into said slotinto the path of movement of said pin engaging lever to lock the same inpin locking position across said slot, the improvement comprising, asecond lever pivotally'mounted on said body member, adjacent one endthereof, a handle member connected at the other end of the second leverextending to a side of the body, said second lever extending across saidlocking dog and having a slot therein, and said locking dog having amember connected therewith located in said ,slot, said slot between itsend being provided with a retaining shoulder engaging with said dogcarried member upon swinging said second lever by manual operation, thelocking dog being withdrawn to move the member thereon past saidshoulder.

3. In a fifth wheel, having a body member provided with a pin entranceat one side termi-.

said cooperating pin engaging lever being normally swung to openposition out of the slot, a slidably mounted locking dog mounted on saidbody member, and spring means actuating said dog to normally move it atone end into said slot into the path of movement of said pin engaginglever to lock the same in pin locking position across said slot, theimprovement comprising, a second lever pivotally mounted on the bodyREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,981,233 Harris Nov. 20, 19342,096,282 Kortering Oct. 19, 1937 2,469,279 Seyferth May 3 1949

